The Bears are hiring former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen as their next defensive coordinator. Many around the league expected Dennis Allen to land in Chicago as it has been rumored right from when the Bears hired Ben Johnson. The ability to land Allen to his coaching staff has been praised by many around the NFL. So with that let's take a second to learn who Dennis Allen is.
It's official.
— Dave (@dave_bfr) January 27, 2025
The Bears are hiring former Saints head coach Dennis Allen as their new defensive coordinator.
Great acquisition by Ben Johnson who continues to build a fantastic coaching staff.
Last Position:
Allen, 52, most recently served as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from the start of the 2022 season until his firing after a Week 9 loss in 2023.
Previous Head Coaching Experience:
Allen was previously the head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 2012 to 2014.
Defensive Coordinator Roles:
Allen has served as a defensive coordinator twice:
2011: Denver Broncos
2015-2021: New Orleans Saints
Defensive Success:
Under Allen's leadership, the Saints defense ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in both points and yards allowed in his final two seasons as defensive coordinator (2019-2021) and his first season as head coach in 2022.
From 2017-2023, Allen’s defenses never ranked lower than 14th in points allowed.
Impact on the Saints Defense:
Allen turned a bottom-tier defense into a top-7 unit, which contributed to the Saints making four straight playoff appearances.
Reputation as a Defensive Play Caller:
Known for his aggressive defense, Allen's units are particularly very successful on 3rd downs.
Best Trait:
Allen is widely regarded as a great teacher, known for his ability to develop players and improve defensive performance.
